Furniture glide

ABSTRACT

A glide assembly attached to the hollow lower portion of a furniture leg includes a screw stud having a cylindrical plug projecting from the bottom of the leg upon which is supported a free-moving vertically displaceable sleeve having a skirt slidable between the periphery of the plug and the walls of the leg. A foot element is provided on the bottom of the plug while means are included on the plug, normally masked by the sleeve, to facilitate rotary displacement of the foot, plug and stud.

United States Patent Hage Feb. 15, 1972 [54] FURNITURE GLIDE 3,430,287 3/ l969 Schroeder ..16/19 [72] Inventor: Carl ll. Hage, Youngstown, 01110. Primary Examiner Bbby R. y [73] Assigneel The Gene al Fireproofing Company, Assistant Examiner-Dofis L. Troutman Youngstown, Ohio Att0meyEmory L. Groff and Emory L. Groff, Jr. F'l N l9, 0 [22] led 0v 197 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 91,016

A glide assembly attached to the hollow lower portion of a furniture leg includes a screw stud having a cylindrical plug pro- [52] US. Cl. ..16/19, 16/42 jecting f the bottom f the leg upon which is Supported a [5] 1 Cl 33/04 free-moving vertically displaceable sleeve having a skirt slida- [58] Field Of Search ..16/42, 43, l9, 18; 248/1883, ble between the periphery of the g and the walls ofthe leg 248/1881; A foot element is provided on the bottom of the plug while means are included on the plug, normally masked by the [56] References Clted sleeve, to facilitate rotary displacement of the foot, plug and UNITED STATES PATENTS V 563,241 6/1896 Wood ..248/188.9 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures "2 ii I il 5 I i 9 k 7 t I I I I W j F 1 r f 14. l P f n I I I 16 i 4 In ||||l 2A ADJUSTMENT J I i L- rt, P '1 i I l l i I I l I i I u -U- ..U

FIGMQ. INVENTOR CARL H. HAGE TTORNEY FURNITURE GLIDE This invention relates generally to a furniture device and more particularly to glide assembly especially adapted to be utilized with the supporting legs of tables, desks or the like.

The use of a separate glide or foot adjacent the bottom of a furniture leg is well known in the art. Many examples of adjustable and/or removable glide elementshave been provided in order to enhance the usability of furniture articles. Some of the principal objectives achieved by the use of such devices include, the provision of self-leveling means for the supported article which insures the stable positioning of the furniture item regardless of the inherent unevenness of many floors and also provide for the protection of carpeting or bare flooring from the otherwise damaging effect of the sharp bottom edges of conventional furniture legs.

By the present arrangement, a glide assembly is provided which may be readily attached to the lower portion of a furniture leg either during the time of initial assembly of the fumiture device or even by the ultimate user of the furniture article without the necessity of providing a specially constructed leg configuration or the use of any special tools or skilled labor. The instant construction not only permits ready vertical adjustment of the glide by a simple manual operation using a single tool, but also includes a gravity-operated sleeve element which insures a complete masking of all portions of the working structure projecting beneath the bottom edge of the fumiture leg. in order to allow use of the basic glide assembly in installations having both an exposed floor and a carpeted floor, means are provided to permit ready exchangeability of the lowermost foot portion of the glide assembly to accommodate the varying environments within which the device will be used. Additionally, the present assembly allows adjustment of the glide without the necessity of lifting the furniture leg off the floor.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved furniture glide assembly projecting from the lower portion of a hollow leg structure and including a vertically displaceable plug element having a masking sleeve surrounding its periphery and a foot portion attached to its bottom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved furniture glide particularly adapted for use with a rectangular tubular leg structure and including a tapped insert block fixedly located within the leg and which supports a vertically adjustable stud and plug assembly having a peripherally mounted masking sleeve and a lowermost foot portion.

Still another object of the, present invention is to provide an improved furniture glide assembly including aplug member having a foot on its bottom and a masking sleeve about its periphery and which is provided with too] engaging means normally shrouded by said sleeve but which may be exposed to permit rotation of the plug member and thus vertical adjustment thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a glide assembly including an insert block fixedly located within a tubular leg structure from which depends a screw stud and plug element having a foot portion on its bottom while an independently vertically displaceable skirt element is disposed between the plug member and adjacent walls of the leg structure.

With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a partial perspective view of the furniture glide of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical view, partly in section, and illustrates in broken lines the alternate positioning of the foot of the glide.

FIG. 3 is a partial bottom plan view of the plug element of the furniture glide with the foot portion removed.

FIG. 4 is a vertical view, partly in section, of a modification of the furniture glide.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the masking sleeve of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the sleeve of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the insert block of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the wrench used to adjust the furniture glide of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the wrench of FIG. 8.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, particularly FIG. 1, the present invention will be seen to comprise a foot or glide assembly generally designated I, mounted within the lower portion of a leg 2 and including a foot portion 3 disposed below the bottom edge 4 of the wall 5 of the leg. The leg 2 may be associated with a table or desk or any other article of furniture, and although the wall 5 of the legis illustrated as defining a rectangular or square cross section, it may quite obviously assume any other suitable configuration.

At least the lowermost portion of the leg 2 is provided with a hollow interior 6 for the ready insertion of the glide assembly 1, which includes an insert block 7 adapted to be disposed within the leg interior 6. The block 7 includes an outer or sidewall 8 of a configuration mating with the leg walls 5 and which may preferably be press-fitted within the leg interior 6. In order to insure a fixed location of the insert block 7 within the leg 2 and thus resist the weight of the furniture article upon the glide assembly, an inner channel 2a or other suitable means such as a welded block, is rigidly disposed within the leg as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The insert block 7 is provided with a centrally disposed collar 9 fixedly disposed with respect to the sidewalls 8 such as by the radially extending webs 10. This collar 9 is provided with an internally threaded bore ll extending throughout the vertical height of the collar 9 and adapted to receive an externally threaded stud 12 including a cylindrical plug 13 formed at its lower end. The diameter of the outer periphery of the plug 13 is significantly less than the transverse dimension between the inner surface of two opposed walls 5 of the leg 2 for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter. The foot or glide 3 is attached to the bottom surface of the plug 13 by any suitable means such as the upstanding mounting extension 14 adapted to be slip-fitted into the cavity 15 provided through the body of the plug, thereby providing a removable connection of the foot and plug and allowing relative movement between these two elements when the plug is rotated during adjustment.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the foot 3 comprises a horizontal circular plate 16 having a plurality of downwardly extending carpet fingers 17 which type of foot is most preferably when the furniture article is disposed upon a carpeted floor. In this embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the circular plate 16 is equal to the diameter of the main body of the plug 13.

The adjustment of the glide assembly 1 as described up to this point will be readily apparent upon a review of FIG. 2, wherein it will be seen that by rotary manipulation of the plug 13 and its stud 12 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to effect vertical displacement of the plug and stud with respect to the fixedly mounted insert block 7, the foot 3 will be either elevated or lowered, respectively, in relation to the furniture leg 2 in order to properly level the article of furniture with respect to the juxtaposed floor or carpeting.

Means are included on the plug 13 to permit the abovedescribed adjustment of the foot by an appropriate tool such as the wrench W as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Such an appropriate tool may include a handle 18 and a pair of spaced apart dropped tines 19-19 defining an open-ended throat 20 therebetween. The distal portion of each of the tines 19 is preferably beveled as at 21 for reasons which will be apparent hereinafter. The two tines 19 are laterally spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between a pair of parallel channels 22--22, formed in the periphery of the plug 13 adjacent the bottom thereof. With the above structure in mind, it will be seen that by using the wrench W, the two tines 19-19 may be readily inserted into the channels 22-22 so that subsequent arcuate displacement of the handle 18 of the wrench W will result in a corresponding vertical adjustment of the glide assembly 1.

A feature of the present invention includes the provision of a masking sleeve, generally designated 23, which includes a depending skirt portion 24 disposed between the outer periphery of the plug 13 and the inner surfaces of the leg walls 5 as shown most clearly in FIG. 2. The hollow sleeve 23 is completely open adjacent its lower edge 24' and is provided with a horizontal top wall as defined by a plurality of tabs 25 projecting inwardly from the top of the skirt 24. A centrally disposed aperture 26 is formed between the free ends of the tabs 25. The diameter of the aperture 26 is significantly greater than the diameter of the stud 12 to preclude interference therewith while the height of the skirt 24 is preferably no less than the height of the plug 13. Suitable clearance is provided between the outer periphery of the plug 13 and the inner surfaces of the leg walls 5 such that the masking sleeve 23 will at all times be influenced by gravity whereby the top wall or tabs 25 thereof will be urged into engagement with the top surface 27 of the plug 13, thereby insuring positioning of the lower edge 24' of the sleeve in a masking relationship with respect to the channels 22 formed in the lower portion of the plug 13.

Suitable means may be provided to insure that when the glide is in its uppermost position of adjustment, the wrench engageable surfaces 22 will be accessible below the leg bottom edge 4. For example, a stop member or mutilated threads may be provided at the top of the insert block 7 in order to limit the upward movement of the stud and plug. Alternatively, the lowermost edge of the insert block may be positioned at a level calculated to limit the height of displacement of the plug 13. In the latter instance, provision must be made to allow lifting of the sleeve 23 when the plug is in the uppermost position. A remedy would be to cut away a small area around the bottom of the block sidewall 8 to provide lifting clearance for the top of the sleeve skirt 24 when elevated to expose the wrench surfaces 22.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the height of the skirt 24 is selected so that the lower edge 24 of the sleeve will be seen to overlie the periphery of the plate 16 of the glide 3 and thus serve to mask substantially all of the structure of the glide assembly 1 that would be exposed to view when the leg 2 is in position upon a floor or carpeting since the carpet fingers 17 will be embedded within the pile of the carpeting. When the wrench W is applied to readjust the glide assembly, the beveled leading edges of the tines 19 readily facilitate the vertical displacement of the masking sleeve 23 as these tines are urged against the lower edge 24 of the sleeve and upon termination of manipulation of the wrench W, it will be seen that upon removal of the wrench, the skirt 24 of the masking sleeve will drop by gravity to the position shown in FIG. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing, the plate 16a of the glide 3 is ofa diameter greater than the diameter of the plug 13 so that portions of the lower edge 24' of the sleeve 23 will rest upon the upper surface of this plate 16a. Also shown in this figure is a modification of the glide 3 wherein the carpet fingers 17 are omitted in order to provide a smooth undersurface to the plate 16a such as would be most desirable when the furniture article is to be disposed upon a hard floor. By utilizing a suitable plastic or elastomeric composition for the foot element, particularly the plate 16a, it will be appreciated that a nonscratching surface will be disposed upon the adjacent floor.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that an improved glide assembly is provided including unique means serving to mask the structure of the assembly and which is readily displaceable to permit manipulation of the glide assembly during adjustment thereof.

I Claim:

1. A glide assembly for a furniture leg having a hollow interior adjacent its bottom ed e, com rising, an insert block provided with a tapped bore fixedly isposed within said leg interior, a plug element within the lower portion of said leg interior and of a lateral dimension less than that of said leg interior to provide a space therebetween, said plug element provided with a threaded stud extending upwardly and engageable with said tapped bore, a horizontally extending foot member on the bottom of said plug element, a sleeve within said leg interior having a skirt and disposed for free vertical sliding movement within said space between said plug element and the adjacent wall of the leg, and said sleeve skirt having a vertical extent no less than that of said plug element and including a lower edge normally juxtaposed said foot member whereby, said skirt may be vertically displaced within said space to elevate said skirt lower edge and unmask the lower portion of said plug element to permit rotary displacement thereof.

2. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said plug element is cylindrical, and said leg and sleeve skirt are polygonal in horizontal cross section.

3. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said sleeve includes top wall means disposed above said plug element and defining a central aperture surrounding said stud.

4. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said plug element includes a tool engageable recess adjacent said horizontal foot member.

5. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said plug element is provided with a cavity opening through its bottom surface and said foot member includes an upstanding extension insertable within said cavity to retain said foot member against the bottom ofsaid plug element.

6. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said foot member is provided with a planar undersurface.

7. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said foot member includes a plate having a plurality of downwardly projecting fingers.

8. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said foot member includes a cylindrical periphery having a diameter less than the transverse dimension of said sleeve skirt whereby said skirt lower edge normally masks said foot member periphery.

9. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said foot member includes a cylindrical periphery having a diameter equal to the transverse dimension of said sleeve skirt whereby said skirt lower edge normally rests upon said foot member.

10. A glide assembly according to claim 4 including, a pair of said recesses disposed parallel to one another and formed on diametrically opposed portions of said plug element. 

1. A glide assembly for a furniture leg having a hollow interior adjacent its bottom edge, comprising, an insert block provided with a tapped bore fixedly disposed within said leg interior, a plug element within the lower portion of said leg interior and of a lateral dimension less than that of said leg interior to provide a space therebetween, said plug element provided with a threaded stud extending upwardly and engageable with said tapped bore, a horizontally extending foot member on the bottom of said plug element, a sleeve within said leg interior having a skirt and disposed for free vertical sliding movement within said space between said plug element and the adjacent wall of the leg, and said sleeve skirt having a vertical extent no less than that of said plug element and including a lower edge normally juxtaposed said foot member whereby, said skirt may be vertically displaced within said space to elevate said skirt lower edge and unmask the lower portion of said plug element to permit rotary displacement thereof.
 2. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said plug element is cylindrical, and said leg and sleeve skirt are polygonal in horizontal cross section.
 3. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said sleeve includes top wall means disposed above said plug element and defining a central aperture surrounding said stud.
 4. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said plug element includes a tool engageable recess adjacent said horizontal foot member.
 5. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said plug element is provided with a cavity opening through its bottom surface and said foot member includes an upstanding extension insertable within said cavity to retain said foot member against the bottom of said plug element.
 6. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said foot member is provided with a planar undersurface.
 7. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said foot member includes a plate having a plurality of downwardly projecting fingers.
 8. A glide assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said foot member includes a cylindrical periphery having a diameter less than the transverse dimension of said sleeve skirt whereby said skirt lower edge normally masks said foot member periphery.
 9. A glide assembly according to claim 1 whErein, said foot member includes a cylindrical periphery having a diameter equal to the transverse dimension of said sleeve skirt whereby said skirt lower edge normally rests upon said foot member.
 10. A glide assembly according to claim 4 including, a pair of said recesses disposed parallel to one another and formed on diametrically opposed portions of said plug element. 